Omnidirectional fluid-control valve

ABSTRACT

A fluid-control valve having a spherical control member surrounded by a body having a chamber that conforms intimately with the surface of the control member. Fluid passageways are provided on the control member which are alignable with ports in the body when the member is nutated relative to the chamber. Fluid under pressure is thus selectively directed to hydraulic equipment to actuate a ram or other device.

Allen Richard Andie 3209 Elwood Drive, llmcine, Win. 531M 15 [21] Appl. No. 91,277

[22] Filed Nov. 20, 197i) [451 Patented Dec. 21, 1971 [72] Inventor [54] I UMNRDWMZTIONAL lFlLlUllD-CQN'llliUlL VALVE -11 Clnima, 15 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. tCl 137/b25.23 [51] int. (21.. 1 161: 11/02 {501 ll ield oil rch ....13-'I/625.22, 625.23, 625.21, 625.46, 625.47; 251/315 [56] References Cited I UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,613,908 10/1952 Palen 137/625.22

2,911,009 11/1959 Parker 251/315X 3,313,317 4/1967 Mosier 137/625.46 3,370,612 2/1968 1-1011 251/315 X 3,545,487 12/1970 liinner 137/625.2l X

Primary Examiner-Ml. Cary Nelson Assistant Examiner-lRobert J. Miller Attorney--Axel H. Johnson Ahfi'lllli/MIT: A fluid-control valve having a spherical control member surrounded by a body having a chamber that con forms intimately with the surface of the control member. Fluid passageways are provided on the control member which are alignable with ports in the body when the member is mutated relative to the chamber. Fluid under pressure is thus selectively directed to hydraulic equipment to actuate a ram or other device.

PATENTEU UEBZI ran SHEET 2 [)F 2 INVENTOI? A LL EN E/c/M 12.0 AND/5 l OMNIIDIIRECTIONAL FLUID-CONTROL VALl/IE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention This invention relates to a valve for hydraulic systems that permits selective control of one or more hydraulic rams or similar equipment.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art generally comprises valves having sliding spools provided with axially spaced circumferential reductions in diameter which serve to valve fluid into various passageways upon axially shifting of the spools.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention comprises a hydraulic valve, the gist of which comprises a control member having a spherical contour and which is substantially surrounded by a body portion in intimate spherical contact therewith. The control member can be peripherally rotated or nutated relative to the body portion by means of a handle. The control member is provided with a circumferential passageway and a plurality of circumferentially spaced passageways which are selectively positionable so as to permit fluid to be directed to operate the desired cylinder or ram. An object of this invention is to provide a control valve that operates in a plurality of directions by nutating the handle thereof.

Another object is to provide a valve having ports that permit operating a plurality of fluid-actuated devices from one control unit.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompany ing drawings wherein an embodiment of the invention is shown. It is however, to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed, but includes all such variations as fall within the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. I is a plan view ofa typical valve embracing this inventron.

FIG. 2 is a section taken at 27-2 of FIG. II, and in the blocked" position.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the valve.

FIG. 6 is atop view of the spherical control member.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the control member.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the control member.

FIG. 7 is a section taken at 77 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the valve having an apertured cam plate to permit operation of the valve in planes at right angles to each other.

FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 8, but in which the aperture limits the operation of the valve to one plane.

FIG. 16 is a plan view of the valve with a portion broken away to show the ports, and the means of limiting rotation of the control member.

FIG. II is a section taken at Ill-l1 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 112 through M are diagrammatic and illustrate the functions of the valve and ram at various positions of the control member in the plane of FIG. 2.

FIG. is diagrammatic and illustrates the functions of the valve and ram in the plane I5-I5 of FIG. I, and showing the system inactive or blocked."

The valve in this instance, comprises a body portion 110 of the form shown, and which comprises a lower portion 12 and upper portion M. These portions have plane mating surfaces as at 16 which are machined to provide a leakproof seal. Bolts 18 are provided to secure portions 12 and 14 together.

The control member 20 comprises a sphere member 22 preferably of metal, with a central point 24. A handle 26 is secured in member 22 by a threaded portion or by other suitable means, and is defined by an axis 28 which passes through central point 24. A ball 30 provides a convenient means of operating the valve. A circumferential open primary passageway 32 extends about the periphery of spherical member 22, normal to axis 26, and which passageway is positioned substantially at the maximum diameter of the sphere 22. A plurality of circumferentially positioned secondary passageways 34, 6 in this instance, are provided at apart, the functions of which will be later explained. A lower passageway 36 is provided at the bottom of sphere 22 normal to the axis 26 and of the shape shown.

Lower and upper portions 112 and M respectively have a mutual spherical chamber 36 which is machined accurately to conform to the contour of the sphere 22, and to permit the latter to rotate freely therein. Portion M is provided with an upper opening 66 of the shape shown. Handle 26 is positioned so as to move to various positions within opening 66 as the control member 26 is nutated. A guide plate 62 is positioned as shown, with an opening in this instance conforming to the opening 60. Plate 62 can also be optionally provided with other openings such as MI and 16 for various control situations, and shown in FIGS. 6 and 9. An O-ring seal 46 is provided in the spherical chamber 38 of the upper portion Ml to assure a fluid seal about the sphere 22. In this instance it is necessary to prevent rotation of the control member 26 about the axis 26. This is accomplished by providing a pin 56 in spherical member 22 as shown. Pin 56 travels in a slot 62 machined in portions 12 and Id as shown in FIGS. 10 and Ill in the direction indicated by arrow 56. Control member 26 is otherwise free to nutate in any direction except as limited by the opening 40 or those shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

In this instance provision is made to operate a pair of double-acting rams or cylinders 56 and 57. FIGS. 12 through M shown the hydraulic connections between the ram 56 and the control valve, and conform to sectional view in FIG. 2. A fluid supply line 56 extends to a port 66, and supply line 62 extends to a port 64. A pump 66 of a suitable type supplies fluid under pressure through supply line 68 into port 70.

Body portion 16 has provided therein a cavity 72 opening into an outlet port 74. The valve, as shown in FIG. 12 is in a blocked or closed position, with no fluid flowing. When han' dle 26 is moved to the position shown in FIG. l3, fluid flows through port 70 into passageway 36, out through port 66 and through line 62 to ram 56, thus moving rod 76 in the direction of the arrow. Fluid will then flow through line 56, into port 66 and around passageway 32, escape through outlet port 76 and through line 76 to a sump or reservoir 79. When handle 26 is moved to the position shown in FIG. M, fluid will flow through port 70 into passageway 36, out through port 66 and through line 56 to ram 56, thus moving rod 76 in the direction of the arrow. Fluid will then flow through line 62 into port 66, and out through return port 74 and line 76 to the sump or reservoir '79.

Ram 57, shown in FIG. I5, is controlled in the same manner as described with respect to ram 56, the handle 26 being moved in a direction at right angles to that when actuating ram 56. In this instance, line 66 is connected to port 62, and line 66 is connected to port 66. The control of ram 67 is otherwise identical with that of ram 56.

When the valve is arranged to selectively actuate either ram 56 or 57, the plate 62 will have an opening 66 as shown in FIG. 6. If only one ram is in the system, the plate d2 can have an opening 66 as shown in FIG. 9, thus limiting the handle 26 to movement or nutation in one plane. However, in the absence of plates 42, the handle 26 is not so limited. With respect to FIG. l, the handle is limited to nutation only by the contour of opening 40.

The above being a complete description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

I. A fluid control valve having a body and a control member, said control member comprising a sphere rotatable within said body and defined by a central point, a primary peripherally open passageway encircling said sphere, a plurality of discrete peripherally spaced secondary passageways opening into said primary passageway and directed peripherally and downwardly therefrom, a lower passageway on the surface of said sphere, discrete from said secondary passageways and symmetrical with an axis normal to said primary passageway and passing through said central point, said body having a chamber intimately surrounding said sphere and permitting rotation thereof, said body having a plurality of ports for the flow of fluid opening into said chamber, and an outlet fluid port, said ports permitting fluid to flow into said lower passageway and to be directed selectively into said secondary passageways so 'as to flow about said primary passageway and through said outlet port upon nutation of said control member.

2. A fluid control valve as set forth in claim 1, in which said body is defined by an upwardly directed opening in said chamber, a handle integral with said sphere, defined by said axis and extending upwardly throughsaid opening.

3. A fluid control valve as set forth in claim 2, in which means is provided integral with said sphere to engage said body to prevent rotation of said sphere about said axis, but permit nutation of said sphere relative to said chamber.

4. A fluid control valve as set forth in claim 3, in which said means comprises a projecting member integral with said sphere which engages a slot in the wall of said chamber.

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1. A fluid control valve having a body and a control member, said control member comprising a sphere rotatable within said body and defined by a central point, a primary peripherally open passageway encircling said sphere, a plurality of discrete peripherally spaced secondary passageways opening into said primary passageway and directed peripherally and downwardly therefrom, a lower passageway on the surface of said sphere, discrete from said secondary passageways and symmetrical with an axis normal to said primary passageway and passing through said central point, said body having a chamber intimately surrounding said sphere and permitting rotation thereof, said body having a plurality of ports for the flow of fluid opening into said chamber, and an outlet fluid port, said ports permitting fluid to flow into said lower passageway and to be directed selectively into said secondary passageways so as to flow about said primary passageway and through said outlet port upon nutation of said control member.
 2. A fluid control valve as set forth in claim 1, in which said body is defined by an upwardly directed opening in said chamber, a handle integral with said sphere, defined by said axis and extending upwardly through said opening.
 3. A fluid control valve as set forth in claim 2, in which means is provided integral with said sphere to engage said body to prevent rotation of said sphere about said axis, but permit nutation of said sphere relative to said chamber.
 4. A fluid control valve as set forth in claim 3, in which said means comprises a projecting member integral with said sphere which engages a slot in the wall of said chamber. 